Nwosu, one of USC’s outside linebackers who often lines up as a hybrid edge rusher, ranks toward the top of the national leaders in pass break-ups, a skill more commonly seen from defensive backs.

But through five weeks, Nwosu has broken up eight passes. Only three other players — Ohio State’s Denzel Ward, Ohio’s Bradd Ellis and Oregon’s Arrion Springs, all of them, of course, defensive backs — have broken up more, each with nine.

Most often, Nwosu bats a pass down at the line of scrimmage, as he did last week at Washington State.

“It’s a timing thing,” he said.

As Luke Falk, the Cougars’ quarterback, lofted a pass in the second quarter, Nwosu jumped and tipped the ball with his left hand. It bounced off the face mask of the right tackle, then he intercepted it. It gave the Trojans possession at the Washington State 3-yard line.

“He knows that if he’s not going to get a sack, then he has to stop and get his hands up,” said Chris Hawkins, the Trojans’ senior safety. “I don’t know why QBs keep thinking they can throw his way. It’s certainly not working out for them too well right now.”

In a win over Stanford in USC’s Pac-12 opener last month, Nwosu, a senior, was credited with as many as five pass-breakups.

“In my opinion, he’s the best defensive player in college football right now, at this moment in time,” Hawkins said. “He’s playing that good.”

Nwosu is athletic, for starters. He credits his leaping ability to the years spent on the basketball court. He played hoops at Narbonne High in Harbor City. Hawkins added that he “can run just as fast as our slowest DB.”

But Nwosu said his effort to tip passes comes as much from reviewing game film in the days before kickoff and “being able to know the quarterback’s timing, his trajectory, how low his balls are. You just study.”

A portion of USC’s practices is also centered on drills that emphasis batting down passes.

It has worked for Nwosu.

Last season, he broke up five passes, a total he surpassed after the first two weeks of this season.

LINEMAN COUNT

Chuma Edoga, USC’s starting right tackle, is not expected to play against Oregon State on Saturday after he was held out of practice on Thursday.

“I don’t anticipate him in this game,” Coach Clay Helton said.

That leaves at least two new starters on the offensive line. Either freshman Austin Jackson or redshirt sophomore Clayton Johnston replace Edoga. Freshman Andrew Vorhees is also set to replace Viane Talamaivao, out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, at right guard.

Left tackle Toa Lobendahn, who was out at Washington State while hospitalized with a skin infection, is slated to return after practice this week.

QUICK HIT

Outside linebacker Porter Gustin remains at least a couple weeks away from a potential return, Helton said. Gustin has been sidelined for the past two games because of a toe fracture and a torn bicep. He is rehabbing both injuries and remains in a walking boot. “You gotta hold him back from everything,” Helton said. “He’s chomping at the bit to get back.”

Joey Kaufman is the USC beat writer for the Southern California News Group. Since joining the Orange County Register in 2015, he has also covered Major League Baseball and UCLA athletics. His work has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors and Football Writers Association of America. Kaufman grew up in beautiful downtown Burbank.